Senate Reconciliation?

It was a tough budget process this year. And it was particularly tough in the State Senate which has two ideologically opposite conferences locked in a power sharing arrangement to form the majority. The coalition has come close to falling apart before, and this year was no exception, this time over the issue of campaign finance reform. Republicans oppose it, the breakaway IDC favors it. In the end, they went with a pilot program just for the Comptroller’s race that just about everybody hates.

So could reconciliation be on the horizon between the IDC and the mainline Democrats? Sources say Democrat Mike Gianaris of Queens was poised to meet with IDC Leader Jeff Klein Wednesday to discuss a co-leadership which would bring the IDC back into the Democratic fold and terminate the experimental government in the Senate. The meeting was canceled, but clearly these kinds of conversations are now happening.

Gianaris did not deny the meeting was supposed to take place, but declined to comment further noting the “sensitivity” of this subject. He and Klein have not met face to face in years. Gianaris has said previously that the Mainline Democratic position has been that they want the IDC back, and they are eager to work with them. But Gianaris has also said previously that should the IDC come back, they would have as much power in the Democratic conference as any five members ( or actually he had said four, since this was a couple of years ago and there were four not five IDC-ers ).

So what has changed? Well, there is a growing feeling within the Mainline Democratic Conference that enough is enough already. Senators Diaz, Espaillat ans others have been vocal during conference meetings about how it is time to reconcile and give Klein “what he wants” in order to bring him back. There is a feeling among some that if they don’t bring Klein back soon his power only grows, setting up the possibility that he could run primaries against guys like Senator Tim Kennedy ( D – Buffalo ) this year and win. One source says there is also a concern that Gustavo Rivera ( D- Bronx ) might be vulnerable as well.

This entry was posted by Zack Fink on April 15, 2014 at 1:33 pm, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

BronxVoter

Don’t compromise Gianaris. They should have as much power in the Democratic conference as any five members — period. Klein is scared of Oliver Koppell and he should be. Daily Kos has 7150 people willing to support Koppell. Koppell can win and we will be rid of the plague that is Jeff Klein.

Count de Monet

Make that 7739 people – and “counting.”

Klein Constituent

We are sick of that traitor, Jeff Klein. We need a real Democrat who can be trusted and that Democrat is Oliver Koppell! Klein is scared and he should be!

BronxVoter

BTW — Gustavo Rivera is not vulnerable. Fernando Cabrera is no threat. Fernando Cabrera is Espada II. I expect to see Bharhara weigh in on Cabrera’s future.

Count de Monet

If you are going to invoke the avenging angel, spell his name properly.

BronxVoter

My apologies. Not sure where that 2nd “h” came from. You are absolutely right — he deserves better from me. I’m counting on him to clean up my beloved borough.

Count de Monet

Someone should.

Mike Flynn

” Sen. Klein Doesn’t Make Bold Moves”

The idea that Sen. Jeff Klein would actually make a bold move towards IDC reconciliation with mainstream Democrats in the Senate, at the risk of offending Gov. Cuomo and Sen. Dean Skelos, would cause the Senator to soil himself so don’t expect it to happen, or for Sen. Klein to do anything but follow orders. That’s why Sen. Klein got the job as IDC leader isn’t it? Mike Flynn ‘Middle Class Mike’

BronxVoterToo

Libelous remarks Bronx voter. I am sure Cabrera has more honor than you are displaying.

Jerald

This sounds like Gianaris reached out to Klein, Klein’s folks declined, so Gianaris leaked this to raise money and cause trouble.

Same old tired play book by this politician.

Jerald

IDC Senator Diane Savino on rumored IDC/Dem merger: “That’s not happening you can take that to the bank”

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